This clashes with the frequent media assertion that Americans readily trust the so-called overwhelming “consensus” on climate change.

The survey also found that far-left Democrats are much more likely to put their faith in climate scientists, while Republicans remain more skeptical. The survey noted that those skeptical of man’s influence on global warming aren’t science illiterate, a favorite talking point of the far left.

Overall, Pew’s research finds that only 33 percent of U.S. adults think climatologists understand “very well” whether the climate is changing, and only 19 percent of respondents think climate scientists know the best ways to address climate change. As for beliefs, 51 percent believe climate change is due to “natural causes” or “no evidence” it’s man’s fault.

The current political cycle is dominated by shrill attacks on anyone who questions whether man-made emissions of carbon dioxide are driving global warming. But while the overwhelming share of mainstream media reporting reinforces such views, Pew’s study found that only 27 percent of respondents think that “almost all climate scientists agree that human behavior is mostly behind climate change.”